15th February 2006

NOTES OF SPECIAL MEETING HELD AT THE VILLAGE HALL 15TH FEBRUARY 2006


The chairman welcomed everyone attending and introduced Mr M Myers of the Lions Club, who gave a talk on the ‘Message in a Bottle’ scheme. The scheme involves leaving medical instructions in a bottle and a sticker on the entrance of your accommodation to inform medical providers of any medication or allergies you may have in an emergency. If anyone would like more information on this scheme run by the Lions Club please contact the Parish Clerk.

Mr Myers presented a cheque on behalf of the Lions Club to Mr Burt for the amount of £700.00 toward the Village Hall extension fund, approximately ½ the money had been raised around the village by the Short Mat Bowls Club with Lions Club Christmas float, the remainder of the donation was made up by the Lions Club, Mr Burt thanked Mr Myers and the Lions club for their kind generosity.

Another presentation was made to Mr Burt for Village Hall extension fund by Mr B Trowbridge and Mrs Pluthero from the Short Mat Bowls Club for the amount of £500.00 Mr Burt thanked all at the Short Mat Bowls Club. Both generous donations will contribute greatly to the Village Hall extension fund.

Mr Trowbridge also made a presentation on behalf of the Parish Council to the retiring clerk to the Parish Council, Mr Trowbridge thanked Mrs Burt for her 13 years impeccable service, and presented Mrs Burt with a stone bird bath and flowers, Mrs Burt will be missed.

Simon Thompson from Dorset Community Action presented a talk on implementing a new Parish Plan, a previous Parish Plan for Okeford Fitzpaine was completed in 1985, and a re-appraisal of this was completed in 2001 by post, the appraisal showed that since the 1985 Parish Plan several improvements had been made to sports facilities, social housing and normal housing, although not everything had been implemented from the Parish Plan it is shown that this is an important historical document, that provides aspiration, policies, actions and influence.

A Parish Plan has to involve the whole community. To ensure the Parish Plan is effective and meets the needs of all parishioners, we need your help.

Simon Thompson gave guidance on how to implement a new Parish Plan, to the benefit of the Village and its future, a steering group of a maximum of 12 persons or ideally 6 – 8 persons to complete a Parish Plan that will include social, economic and environmental needs would be needed, members of the steering group would be committed to the Parish Plan, not compelled and be aware of single points taking over the Parish Plan.

Any members of the Village, who feel like they would be able to commit to the steering group with aspirations of bringing the Parish Plan to completion, please contact the Parish Clerk.

The new Parish Plan would be partly funded by a grant from DCC 75%. The Parish Council would contribute approximately 5% - 8% with approximately 20% being provided through voluntary sources.

Mr Thompson thanked all in attendance and left a questionnaire on potential topic areas that the Parish Plan could cover.

Mr Burt closed the meeting by thanking Mr Myers, members of the Short Mat Bowls Club, Mr Thompson and members of the public for attending.